Martha's Vineyard plays a special role in the history and culture of African Americans in this nation. Although there are instances of racial prejudice and discrimination, the Island has largely served as a beacon of hope over the years: an early vacation spot for African Americans as well as a nexus and forum for discussion for some of the most influential black scholars and leaders in the nation.

Amid compliments and congratulations, the Martha's Vineyard Commission on Thursday unanimously approved the 35,000-square-foot YMCA building to be built across from the regional high school on Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road following a whirlwind session of deliberations that wrapped up in under ninety minutes.

It is a familiar site in the Vineyard in the summer going back hundreds of years: shellfishermen at low tide in the mornings raking the sandy bottom of Sengekontacket Pond and filling wire bushel baskets with quahaugs.

A crowd of about 120 year-round and seasonal residents sat before a large screen at the new agricultural hall in West Tisbury on Wednesday to witness an eye-opening computer simulation which chronicled the history of development on the Vineyard over the past 400 years.

An account of the first Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society Fair, which at the time was called simply the fair and cattle show, from the Oct. 14, 1859 edition of the Vineyard Gazette recounts that the show was "well attended by people from all parts of the County."

Addressing his Third Army troops before the Battle of France in World War II, General George S. Patton spoke these now-famous blunt words: "Boys, we all want to go home. We want to get this over with. But the quickest way to get it over with is to go get those bastards. The quicker they're whipped, the quicker we go home."